Expert: Dennis Herman - 8/18/2008

Question
Hello,
My question might be a little strange, but it's something I have wondered about for a long time.
In Job 19:26, it says: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

I have often wondered if our skin contains some sort of larvae...worms that only develop after death whose purpose is to eat up this body when it is dead.
When we die and we are buried, we are put in a vault, so no worms or bugs can get in to devour the body.
I cannot bear to think that worms will eat away at my body when it is in the grave, so I have requested that I be cremated. And my husband and family disagree with this. I'd rather be cremated than have worms crawling on my body eating away at it.
No, I'm not emotionally damaged or anything like that. It is just something that I think about when I think of dying.
If you have anything to say on the matter of these 'skin worms,'from the book of Job, I would appreciate your thoughts or knowledge.
Thank You
Rissa Rose

P.S. I am a christian. I have been saved for almost 40 years.

Answer
Thank you for the question.  I am sure this has been on the minds of many people through the years.  I do not usually study the book of Job.  The reason for that is the explanation given by God at the end of the chapter that states: " Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?"  KJV Job 38:2  In other words there may be false statements made by Job's friends that we should be careful about.  

First we need to identify who made the statement.  Job 19 begins:


KJV Job 19:1
1.  Then Job answered and said,
KJV Job 19:25-27
25.  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26.  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27.  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

It was Job that made the statement and it appears that he is talking about the worms that live in the ground.  Do the eat the flesh?  Not all people are sealed before being buried.  I am sure you have seen maggots on dead animals.  I would consider this to be a true statement made by Job.   But we should never assume anything in the Bible without first checking other scripture to see if they agree.  

KJV Exodus 16:20
20.  Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

The manna in the wilderness bred worms if they tried to keep it for the next day.  This was a sign and a lesson to the people that they needed to keep the Sabbath.  

KJV Exodus 16:22-24
22.  And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23.  And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
24.  And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

There is one very interesting fact about this worm in the manna.  If we look up the meaning of the word in the Concordance we will see that this maggot is what the people used to make red dye.  Why did God use a worm that made red dye?  It was yet one more hidden sign pointing to the sacrifice of Christ.  

Strong's Ref. # 8438   towla`   Pronounced to-law'
and (feminine) towleoah {to-lay-aw'}; or towla ath {to-lah'-ath}; or tolaiath {to-lah'-ath}; from HSN3216; a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of HSN8144) the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the color from it, and cloths dyed therewith:

We can check a few more text to se what else we can learn about the use of the word worm:



KJV Job 21:1
1.  But Job answered and said,
KJV Job 21:25-26
25.  And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26.  They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

In chapter 21 Job confirms what he stated in chapter 19.

KJV Isaiah 14:10-12
10.  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11.  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
12.  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Isaiah uses the word worm in the same context as Job.  

KJV Micah 7:17
17.  They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee.

Micah gives us a little bit of added insight to the word worms.  This appears to be referring to earth worms.  The ones we find in the garden or use for fishing.  This confirms that Job is talking about the physical worms that we are familiar with.  But remember that God used worms to point to salvation and I would not think God wants you to worry about what worms can do.  Remember what the Lord will do for you when you are raised from the dead.  When Jesus appeared from the tomb the light was so bright it blinded the guards.  He lite the grave and the pit for all of us the believe on Him.  

Here is one more text with the use of worms.  

KJV Acts 12:21-23
21.  And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22.  And the people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23.  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

You can visit my web site at http://hystar.wordpress.com/ to view additional studies.